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The Boomerang Generation: A Sociological Analysis

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Introduction

The Boomerang Generation is a family trend that has drawn the interest of sociologists

and the general public alike. It is characterised by adult offspring returning home after

graduating (Ullrich, L. D., & Pantuosco, 2020). Three well-known sociological perspectives

—the conflict perspective, the functionalist viewpoint, and the symbolic interactionism

perspective—will be used to analyse this occurrence in this blog article. These perspectives

will provide us a thorough grasp of how this trend impacts families in many ways, as well as

its advantages for society and how it alters how families are defined.

A. Conflict Perspective: Differential Impact on Families

The conflict viewpoint emphasises the societal power disparities and underlying

inequities. When the Boomerang Generation trend is considered, it is evident that there are

differences in how this family phenomena impacts families as a result of resources,

opportunities, and societal institutions (Zhang et al., 2020). The homecoming of adult

children can put a financial pressure on families. Families with more financial means could

have an easier time accommodating their Boomerang children, whereas families with less

financial resources can feel more financial strain. Additionally, cultural disparities are a

major factor. Conflicts over expectations and duties within the family may arise when adult

children return to families in cultures that value independence and autonomy. In contrast, this

tendency could be more easily accepted and incorporated in societies where

multigenerational living is a tradition.

The conflict approach also emphasises how societal frameworks and practises influence

diverse effects. Government assistance programmes like student loan forgiveness or

affordable housing can have a big impact on how families deal with this trend. Conflicts and

inequities may be less common in cultures with strong social safety nets than in ones with
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weaker safety nets (Zhang et al., 2020). In summary, the conflict perspective clarifies

economic inequalities, cultural factors, and societal institutions so that we may comprehend

why the Boomerang Generation trend impacts families differently.

B. Functionalist Perspective: Benefits for Society

According to the functionalist point of view, society is a complex system with

interconnected pieces that contribute to its overall functionality and stability (Nord, 2023).

We can pinpoint a number of advantages that this familial phenomenon, known as the

Boomerang Generation trend, delivers to society. It first encourages family support and

togetherness. As adult children come home, family members are pushed to communicate and

work together more, which strengthens family ties. It enables parents to help their adult

offspring financially and emotionally at key life transitional times, promoting a more stable

and benevolent environment.

The Boomerang Generation tendency also affects society as a whole. It may be able to

lessen some of the societal problems caused by student loan debt and the cost of housing.

While pursuing their educational or professional goals, young adults who are struggling

financially might rely on help from their families. This can therefore result in a workforce

that is more educated and financially secure, which is advantageous for other social

institutions like education and the economy. In conclusion, the functionalist viewpoint shows

that the Boomerang Generation trend fosters stronger family bonds, mutual support, and

makes society more flexible and robust. It emphasises how the family dynamic and other

social institutions are positively impacted by this familial tendency, which eventually benefits

society as a whole (Tosi, 2020).

C. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Redefining Family Meanings

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The symbolic interactionist viewpoint is concerned with the small-scale interactions

and symbolic significances that take place inside society. It provides insights into how

families describe themselves and how this definition changes over time when applied to the

Boomerang Generation trend. According to symbolic interactionism, people and families

develop their own interpretations of social occurrences via routine encounters (Charmaz et

al., 2019). In the Boomerang Generation, when adult children return home, family members

interact and negotiate their responsibilities and relationships on a continuous basis. A new

definition of what a family is may result from this. It's possible for the lines between parent

and adult kid to become less clear, and new duties and expectations to develop.

Additionally, the symbolic interactionist viewpoint emphasises how language and

symbols influence how families are understood. When communicating and reaffirming their

identities, families may utilise symbols like meals, conversations, or rituals. Families may

need to modify their language and symbols to reflect new relationships when adult children

come home. The family's meaning and identity develop throughout time as a result of these

interactions, taking into account the particular dynamics of their particular circumstance and

questioning conventional ideas about the roles and structure of families. Finally, the symbolic

interactionist viewpoint enables us to explore the nuanced world of family meanings and how

they alter in response to the Boomerang Generation trend.

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References

Charmaz, K., Harris, S. R., & Irvine, L. (2019). The social self and everyday life:

Understanding the world through symbolic interactionism. John Wiley & Sons.

Nord, C. (2023). Functionalist approaches. In The Routledge Handbook of Translation

Theory and Concepts (pp. 169-184). Routledge.

Tosi, M. (2020). Boomerang kids and parents’ well-being: adaptation, stressors, and social

norms. European Sociological Review, 36(3), 460-473.

Ullrich, L. D., & Pantuosco, L. J. (2020). Boomerang kids: What factors impact the

prevalence of moving home after college? Journal of Business & Educational

Leadership, 10(1).

Zhang, S., Moeckel, R., Moreno, A. T., Shuai, B., & Gao, J. (2020). A work-life conflict

perspective on telework. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 141,

51-68.